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ACT Government Changes Asbestos Compensation Laws

The Australian Capital Territory government has amended asbestos compensation
laws to allow a victim's relatives to collect compensation if that victim
dies before the claim is finalized.

Before the amendment, claims would not be paid if a victim died before
their case was finalized. Families had to pursue a separate legal case
if they wanted to continue their relative's claim which only added to
their pain.

The new ruling will allow families to collect payment directly or transfer
it to the estate of the deceased.

Part of the motivation behind the change was a case last year where a
court hearing took place at the home of a dying patient in an effort to
expedite the claims process.

Australian Prime Minister Rejects Alimta Subsidy Request

A push for government subsidized treatments for asbestos disease sufferers
has been rejected by Australia's prime minister.

Prime Minister John Howard has declined to support a push to subsidize
Alimta to treat mesothelioma patients. Howard responded that patients
should request assistance from their state governments to help cover treatment
costs which generally run about $16,500 (USD) per 18-week cycle.

Patient advocates say that subsidies would cost $5-7 million per year
which they argue is trivial when compared to total government spending.
Two states, New South Wales and Western Australia already have subsidy
plans in place.

Though Alimta has been proven to extend patient's lives, it is not considered
a cure for the disease. Requests to list Alimta on Australia's Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme have all been rejected on the grounds of cost and possible
toxicity.

Eli Lilly which has submitted an application to have Alimta re-examined
in November, claims new data proves that toxicity is "mild and easily
manageable" by most patients.

About 600 Australians are diagnosed annually with mesothelioma which
is caused by exposure to asbestos.